Budget Hearings — Public Hearing on the Budget (missed first 5 min.)
9:19PM Apr 1, +0000
Speakers:
President Sheffield
Keywords:
detroiters
city
detroit
caller
people
counsel
year
budget
hear
council
fund
good evening
ddot
funding
disability
residents
disabled
district
community
accessible
As you know when ordered followed by Ronald Austin
Foster oh by the way people
may be here because
I really want everyone to say cheering section seven destitute 01
to having a proper health department yet
I think we're paying all of your health care costs their game especially in property credits anyway some people may get involved in our chapter,
you know what I'm talking about?
offline application, individual conversation in order to avoid Open Meetings Act instead of in front of the public
I see in the video chat houses if you don't want to investigate what looks like and I don't care about also what you're GSD DPW is that the city budget to take care of renovating properties. Also they do selective enforcement I have received that one to one misrepresentations about the dead situation my neighbor, one would you deal with an organization that continues to be roughly as transparent as we receive for one year and one member Callaway?
Not here,
right now. Council My name is
here representing disabled to Twitter supporters all wheel policy choice. Wow. May we do more to make our city more welcoming, accessible to those with disabilities? What are some of the we open our allies and short disability power letter to all the killing all the city extendibility makes life work better for all of us.
So please do look at all our
apps also thank you for passing before the council backs down to two is the auditor the past 11,000 household eviction has given legal assistance or advice. This isn't just a few people's own personal problem. Property eviction. eviction is not good for all of our communities as a whole are basically destabilized by neighborhood poverty. We need to keep the program going. And we do that by allocating funding preferably a permanent funding source. So our interests don't have to worry about this every time the first pass interactive pieces get finalized finalize our budget
thank you for your time. Thank you.
it short. I want to continue to be political over the last two years on both sides. And now it's time to get plugged in. We know that there are nearly 20,000 new charges filed
from their money there is no funding. There's no coherent plan that's been put forward for everybody. In America proposed budget, but not put in one extra dollar for right the issue issues. So we're asking you as the legislative branch of the people to lean into your check and balance to secure funding for the chairman. We know that money is not the problem. It's not the money in the farmer. The lack of money is the problem. Detroit has more money than we had last year and they're still welcome $200 million in our components. So the money's there you've heard testimony from the very heart and the office of conviction within the law department. Sharing advice of counsel is doing what is supposed to be his work. And I know that you've all received various calls to your office's demonstrating the need for the funding from this loss. And so again, I'm totally fine. The world temporary shortage we can't have buyer networks and quickly
but we
thank you so much for being here. The timer will shine here. I'm glad
you're here. Okay. My name is Sean Harris. I'm organizer over at EC in recycling network. On first and foremost, I just want to pick up council members who came to our last month's vehicle talk some budget priorities that come directly from community members. So for those of you who weren't able to staff come to that meeting. I just wanted to share that with you. And so obviously most DCAC community has very, very high priority on air quality, as we know, is playing and also good potential legislation. Whether it be as much or even use your password is really trying to poster on air quality of Mamak community, which is really a major concern or everyone. Deficits almost all the way out to the grass economy. We're hearing from folks who are dealing with subtracting semi Bucha ocean all the way up in the district green. So we're going to be having our airport townhall next week Wednesday 6pm. We've invited participants over there, but when it comes to the point so as you guys know we have air quality monitors, not only at our facility, but we also have community members with both monitors need to bolster that program to add more. That will be a big part of the type of enforcement around here is actually having community members engaged in that process themselves. So our organization is definitely willing to work with you all to make sure that we're in the middle one that is like I said, we're really good to have you guys next week. Especially monitor quality so much traffic towards work with health and safety committee petitioning for something that will allow us to have an enforceable
triggers. I mean, there's a few other points.
Get over it.
again.
Ah.
you guys
fun and
fun
dancing
ah
man
one of the
one oh
Ma Ma
Ma
oh yeah
are you
on now
but actually the
environments that
we mentioned and I'm going to jump sir I'm
trying to connect with agriculture
on the water
or
bad it was
among some things
there's a lot of programs there's more and a lot of show programs
Thank you.
Thank you
one of the things that's almost stated
in the market,
health community for the Arizona
Chamber and
it's far downtown.
You see the disparities in SSI. Shaffer people here Bill, how's it going downtown in parking for park down and we didn't get land tax pass. They're going to take
recently Washington DC and I want to tell the tale. A look at the house. Here's a good one around the country to take up the
points and then started working here and your parts about the complaints and that is coming. I forgot that we have medical division. That's because people are complaining about the kids going to like marijuana. And right now, the next generation young blacks to become a facility or social action. We need more blacks in medicine. And I'm seeing up on the register. So we need to focus on the budget meeting, but we really need to focus on how people are showing up. And I do I will say all the time. It is I have to also focus on the financial information that still has control at the Governor Snyder employee or the emergency manager I will be calling for to be speaking rotate the housing to manage that. So we have to open up on that that is extreme racism. You should have cared. It's time for the financial people
to perceive
order to have virtually
any new modern product did you say you were going to virtual public comment? My apologies. There were 45 Hands raised for public comment. The first caller is William M. Davis.
You raise
correct 45 Although there were there may be a few that are have their hand raised and also were in line for to speak in person.
And the first caller is William M. Davis.
Good evening. you heard Yes
hello.
Right Mr. Davis, can you try now?
Yes, good evening. Can you be can I be heard? Yes, yes,
we can hear you go right ahead, sir. Okay,
I think some of the highest priority should be like say, restoring the city, Detroit retirees during the last 10 years. Anywhere from one and a half to two and a half billion dollars have been diverted that will normally be going to the city to our returns. Give them a pension payment that wasn't paid and healthcare costs. It was you know, stolen from us. You know, so I think that more needs to be done to aid and assist the city of Detroit retired because if those costs have not been diverted, our pension fund will be over 100% funded. Also separately. I think a whole lot needs to be done as relates to health, but the Health Department Health Services in the city of Detroit, you know, I travel all over the country. And we have one of the worst health departments in existence and it was much better, you know, before they became became mayor, and it couldn't be much better again, we need to aggressively seek out all the federal and state dollars we can to enhance our health department. Also, we need to do a greater effort of restoring the overpayments that not just to the current retirees was seniors and others throughout the city has been making, you know, we need to make sure that the people of the city Detroit are fully restored because it appears to have over the last 15 years has just been a calculated plan to push black people out of the city. The only group this actually went up is white people. I think that's my plan. So I'd like to see I do more aggressively do more to help retain people to stay in the city and have to do more than make sure that the police department is not an occupying department with 75% of the officers living outside the city and 85% of the command officers living outside the city. Does this does not look right look like this would turn into a South Africa type population. Thank you
all right, thank you.
The next caller is listener.
Have a good Good evening.
Good evening listener.
Good evening. Can you hear me?
Yes ma'am. Go right ahead.
Hi, this is Lisa. Franklin warriors on wheels of Metropolitan Detroit and mimic all of my colleagues regarding funding disabled residents for the city of Detroit. We've come to each one of you as council and we've also sent the mayor a letter requesting that there be more funding in each department to support people with disabilities in this city with $826 million coming into this city and has to be spent by the end of next year. It would really be a shame if we do not support right to council and also the Housing Trust Fund because people with disabilities are included in those and who also need modifications to their homes and their rental property. So please fully plan the right to council and also place more money into the Housing Trust Fund for our residents and for our individuals with disabilities in the city of Detroit. Thank you for all that you've done. But again, we need to do this before the end of next year. Thank you so much and have a good evening.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is black bag roo
very clearly.
We can hear you go right ahead.
Okay, man. I don't know live coverage voted Chophouse to talk about that. And as the better frog now ALRO features department of elect. Now you want to do training next. So I don't know how you go play it. But some of y'all don't care cars within benefactors this absentee ballot voter fraud. And now, since y'all don't want to don't want to disavow what's taking place. It needs to just go up another level we need to take it all statewide so everybody checks throughout the whole state about voter chop houses. You may have Oak Park, voter track piles and Taylor voter trap houses. But Detroit definitely got voted tap halls and American Sheffield you a used subpoena power at that concert. And granted, that's Friday because by tracing charter, it ain't been used since 2012 or two trying to ride their whole four years out without using it. We want to know their account balances on those municipal bank accounts. Do you know their account balances because you need to tell us what the current account balance is. What last month's account balance was. We need to know about the pain. The disbursements to date with how the money was paid out who it went to the whole nine because that's probably not a good we need to know. Last year he did a spin move with the Tosha but I tried to petition City Council this time I'm coming hard facts. video proof. There's still to bear proof that if Detroit voter houses and absentee ballot fraud was committed in 2024 election, from one to a four to Deus extreme in the name of Mary Elaine Beckman. Mary un getting ready to get out of this one and all the propaganda is not gonna work. Dead on only
Alright, thank you.
Next caller is Theo pride.
Good evening.
Good evening, to pry Detroit people's platform in Detroit for Tax Justice and district to resident. I want to acknowledge the hard work of counsel during the departmental budget hearings, asking critical questions and listening to community in the pursuit of crafting an equitable budget that works for all Detroiters. I ask Council as you go into closed session to work on the budget to consider implementing participatory budgeting to replace the current and effective budget priorities. Program as the new standard for true budgetary co governance. ARPA can be used to fund a pilot to introduce the new program to residents. Detroit has experience with participatory budgeting with this partnership with invest Detroit's we decide program adopting such a program seems to be a natural next step and engaging residents in the budget. Also fully funding the right to counsel ordinance as it has been in effect since 2022. But has not had the adequate resources to be effective. Also making a $25 million budget allocation to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, as it is really the only local tool we have to create true deep affordable housing for Detroiters also supporting the resolutions to use $6 million in ARPA money to reopen the Monti library and reimburse the library for 14 years of excessive charges for the administration of tax. captures. Lastly, and because de WSD has had a significant increase in revenue this year reduced the drainage fee as they are way too high for most Detroiters. These ads are in line with community needs and community demands. They provide benefits to residents who need it the most which should be our moral full focus. Again, I ask counsel to support these ask and thank you.
All right. you
the next caller is Toshiba
Good evening
Good evening Toshiba.
Good evening Toshiba. Alright, if we can come back to this caller please.
Okay,
the next caller is ADOS Detroit.
All right. ados. Detroit.
Good afternoon and through the chair. May I be hurt?
Yes, you can. Carolyn Hughes.
Yes. The sound system in the auditorium was absolutely awful. I could not hear a thing that the citizens were saying as as they asked her questions or pose their thoughts to the council. I'm not sure why. First class citizen city doesn't have an audio system. That's not real difficult to commandeer Council budget. Mr. Hall. You asked for million dollars more in the budget for staff for the City Council. Listen, we are having a reduction in numbers of citizens. We don't need more Council. We don't need more. Council members. We don't need more employees. We have enough employees. What we do need to do is manage employees a little bit better than we're doing. I've never heard of an ordinance for sweet Street, sweeping where you you they don't even follow your instructions with cricketers who have you know, left their cars on in on the streets even though there's an ordinance that says they get ticketed afterwards. I'm not sure how this city is running. But I know that in the corporate world, that would be a no no. Let me say to you, the police department's budget needs to be monitored. And it also needs to have some impact for all of the unnecessary indemnifications and representations that we're paying. And also in the fire department. We need to actually truly address people being locked in by merchants and buildings. That's a fire hazard. I'm not sure how we're letting that go with the fire department. For the seniors please. We have d o t get the best bustles we have and take them to the zoo day. This is not a difficult thing. That's an easy thing. And then I want to I want to know in charge who's who's in charge of the council.
Right Thank you.
Next caller is Karen hammer. Good evening.
Afternoon. Can you hear me?
Yes we can.
Okay, I'm free legal help right to counsel for Detroiters is unjust, who are unjustly facing eviction is not fully funded. Council should push for the arbor money that's still not designated to fully and permanently fund the right to counsel. It would it was passed into law and it should be observed. The city has $200 million in unallocated ARPA money make that priority that our bro goes for its intended purpose purpose. Seniors, people with disabilities, single parent families, black and minority families and low income homes. fully funding the right to counsel is legal help that will protect tenants rights and keep them in their homes. So far 11,057 households have received full legal representation thanks to the new right to counsel law let this continue. Make it continue. In 2024. It's anticipated over 20,000 people will face eviction keep the right to counsel fully funded and our neighborhood stable and our schools stable preventing evictions helps reduce poverty in our neighborhoods. Is keeps keep children in their neighborhood school and allows blight to not take hold. also support the Housing Trust Fund and other items that Lisa Franklin and feel pride suggested. Thank you for your attention.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Jim Dwight.
All right good evening.
Madam president pro tem and city council. My name is Jim Dwight and I live in district one. I've been with the right to counsel Coalition for five years because of the lack of funding the right to counsel has not been successful. Let me repeat the right to counsel has not been successful. It is not working like it should. In the housing courts at 36. district court right now. Mostly black women have not been fully represented. All but if you are told by attorneys in room 417 that the tenant needs to either pay or leave in 30 days. I've heard this from many sources within the legal community that are that are working with the right to counsel. The reason these tenants have only one option is there's a lack of funding. Please put $27 million into the budget to fully fund the right to counsel. The eviction crisis is a policy choice. The City of Detroit can choose to find a proven system that keeps our majority black majority women with children in their homes or choose to look the other way. Please fully fund the right to counsel coalition. Thank you.
All right. Thank you
the next caller is Steve Babson.
Good evening
there we go. Can you hear me now?
Yes, we can.
Thank you. My name is Steve Babson. I've lived on the east side of Detroit for the last 40 years. And I want to speak on behalf of right to counsel. I want to ask how it is that the city can so easily afford hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize wealthy investors, the mega rich village family in particular, and does so easily and with extraordinary levels of funding. And it's rather obscene to my mind. That $27 million can't be found from the ARPA monies to fully fund right to counsel to keep 1000s of Detroiters in their homes and stabilize neighborhoods by avoiding certain circumstances where people are illegally evicted or unjustly evicted, and their children are no longer able to attend the neighborhood schools where they have already been enrolled. It disrupts their education, it very often makes it difficult for families and workers to find adequate transportation to work. They have established routes that they follow maybe the bus routes, no longer that's that's no longer available. And I want to suggest that if we're really committed to protecting roughly 20,000 households that will face eviction over the next year, right to counsel as a way to make that process more just an equitable it's a it's a system developed by lawyers and comprehensible for lawyers but not for most of us. And for that system to be adequately addressing the needs of Detroiters and has to have right to counsel fully funded, helping people keep their homes and stabilize our neighborhoods. Please fund right to counsel at an adequate level with $27 million from ARPA monies that are available. Thank you.
Right, thank you.
The next caller is Nadine Miller.
Good evening.
Hello, can you hear me?
Yes, we can Okay, thank
you. My name is Nadine Miller. I live in district one. I'm a member of Detroit disability power. Thank you for funding, the Office of Disability affairs. And I hope the money keeps flowing to Office of Disability affairs. To assist the needs of disabled Detroiters. I just had a concern about the voting. And we're we want to make sure that our voting precincts are adequately accommodating to the disabled. Voters and I respect that but I would also like to see emphasis on absentee voting and the reason why I say that I'm visually impaired. I do not drive. And I have been visiting here since 2009. But I noticed from 2000 to 2000. About 16 The my voting precinct my voting location has been moved four times. Two of those times are in a vacant. The reason why they were moved was because the buildings buildings are vacant. And abandoned. And so I was wondering, with the absentee voting. Just that if the buildings were can we reconsider the buildings that we are using to vote before we decide to put money into them? Because like I said, my precinct has been changed four times. I respect the fact that people vote have that they have the right to vote disabled or not. And the way they vote I respect that. But if we can just look harder into funding certain buildings it to accommodate because they may not may not be necessary. I you know, because the buildings where I used to
know that was important Eighth District Protune
Yep. Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Miller, if you will, please get off so we can not sure what happened please give my office a call so that we can help address the concern that you just outlined. very much want to ensure that anyone who would like to vote whether that be absentee at home, or you're willing to do so at the polls, you have an opportunity to do so and do so without any obstruction or any barriers so please give my office a call 31322410 to seven again 313-224-1027 The team may have left my office manager may have left if you would like to place a voicemail we'll absolutely ensure to give you a call back. Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing
all right. Thank you pro Tim.
The next caller is Lindsey Matson.
All right. Good evening. Hi, thank you so much for having me on. My name is Lindsay Matson. I'm a constituent in district five. Councilmember Sheffield and I am calling regarding a couple of things. One is asking you like some other people have done to fully fund the right to counsel ordinance. I was a big part of getting that started and feel really strong. I think it's a really good ordinance. I was really excited that I got passed with a lot of community support, as well as supportive council members. And I think the obvious next step is to make sure it's funded otherwise, it's just sitting there a good policy without being backed up. Secondly, I want to support the asks from Detroit people's platform around participatory budgeting for the community. And finally as a member of Detroit disability power, I'm here to echo the demands around increasing accessibility for Detroiters including making sure that housing, elections accessibility transit and sidewalks are up to par where they need to be putting more money into those things to make sure that we're a fully accessible city and that all Detroiters can have access to the things that they need to have. Additionally, fully funding the ODA and making sure that it is fully staffed as well so that it can be a one stop shop that it was designed to be. Yeah, I think those are my only ask. So
thank you. All right. Thank you.
The next caller is Jacqueline Cuevas sway vos. I apologize if I mispronounce the name.
That's okay. This is Jacqueline Cuevas. Can you hear me?
Yes we can.
I am a native southwest charter itself advocate. A resident of District Six and a business owner. I'm here to stress the importance of funding disabled Detroiters such as myself. In December of 2023 Detroit Creole honored and acknowledged my dedication to accessibility and inclusivity within our community with the Human Rights Award. Self Advocates are determined to make this place the city, a place where we belong and we can thrive but we cannot do it alone. We need funding and we need your your support here and now is where I acknowledge you and your opportunity to empower us by making a significant impact to Detroiters with disabilities with your support of this historic investment. This investment will ultimately benefit us all disability will inevitably be part of all of our lives. Sooner or later. The budget demands of Detroit disability power, and warriors and wheels are mine to in funding us you'll find health, wellbeing, prosperity, inclusion and opportunity in the communities where we all live and serve yourselves included. Thank you very much for your time and for your belief that disability rights are human rights. Thank you.
Thank you.
The next caller is Phillip Pilar.
Good evening.
Hi there.
Good afternoon Council. My name is Philip Peller, I live on the east side. Today I ask that council members invest in our city and its people. I ask that the Office of Disability affairs receives full funding so they may function at full capacity. I asked the Department of Elections receives the money needed to ensure all polling locations are accessible. I asked that we make investments in both the development and restoration of affordable housing here in the city. I asked that we no longer prioritize cars and invest heavily into accessible, environmentally friendly, friendly public at public transit. I ask that we stop Outsourcing Things and instead, hire Detroit errs at a good wage for driving mechanical and supervisory positions. I asked that we invest in our infrastructure heavily. Sidewalks ought to be navigable by all. That's all.
Great. Thank you.
The next caller is Casey P.
Good evening.
Dave evening Council can I be heard?
Yes, you can.
Thank you. This is Casey Peller, I'm a resident in District Four and Policy Manager at Detroit disability power. First, I just wanted to note that I'm incredibly disappointed with the opportunities for public comment that had been provided this budget season. The first 40 minutes of this hearing were completely inaccessible for those calling in over zoom. The Zoom only started about 20 minutes into the hearing. The audio was completely insufficient and couldn't understand what the public was saying. Or if there was a presentation at the beginning. We have been operating hybrid public hearings on Zoom for the past few years. This is not new to this body. Why are we still having these issues you can and must do better. I am here today to urge city council members to fund a stable Detroiters by investing in champion accessibility by committing to fully funding the Office of Disability affairs at $1.4 million annually to invest in accessible voting by allocating $3 million to the park the Department of Elections so they can redistribute via accessibility grants funds necessary to make our polling locations accessible so that everyone can cast their ballot. Please also invest in accessible housing, increase the dedicated funding for the development of accessible housing, including a $25 million allocation to the Housing Trust Fund. Please also invest in accessible transit at least $7.8 million are needed to make all bus stop curbs and landing pads accessible with benches and shelters provided to provide rest and protection from the elements for riders. We also need an increase in that DDOT budget to increase compensation to make competitive wages for operators, mechanics and customer service professionals so that we can keep our folks that we have to decrease the high cost burden and negative service impacts caused by that turnover. And finally, please invest in accessible sidewalks and city infrastructure. We're counting on you to fund disabled Detroiters. Thank you. All right, thank
you.
The next caller is Connor McNeely.
Good evening, counsel. Can I be heard?
Yes, you can.
Thank you. My name is Connor McNeely. And I'm a disability justice. advocate in Detroit and a staff member at Detroit disability power. I want to reiterate some of the points already made today about the tech issues that were had on this call. In my opinion, Detroit is one of the greatest cities in the world and I feel like this is completely unacceptable for our residents. I am in attendance today to encourage city council to fund disabled Detroiters by investing in several issues that affect the disability community versus to agree to fully fund the Office of Disability affairs. 20% of Detroit residents live with some form of disability and it is important that the disability community feels welcome equal and unwanted as contributions of people with disabilities greatly contribute to our society. Second, the city should allocate more funding to the Department of Elections for making accessible accommodations to election polls and abundance. Of which are inaccessible as we have found. decisions and policies that affect people with disabilities are often made in rooms where they are not present. Their voices are heard their voices matter and their voice that in their votes are valued. And the city has an obligation to recognize that. Third, the city needs to increase accessibility and reliability of public transit. Many people with disabilities rely on public transportation and it shouldn't take them any longer to get from point A to point B or be any less convenient for those that do not have disabilities and rely on it. And lastly, the city needs to continue funding its sidewalk program to make City Sidewalks accessible for all an unnecessary amount of the city's sidewalks are crumbled and deteriorating, which is unsafe and unacceptable. Leaving wheelchair users and people who use walkers and canes to walk on the street to avoid unsafe stretches of sidewalk which increases lack of safety and a chance of accident and injury. Where you
All right. Thank you
the next caller is Oh, the next caller is Karen Winston.
Good evening. Yes, good evening.
Good. Yeah, I got a couple of things. Ditto on the inclusionary budgeting processes. You may get a good idea, you know, take take a moment and listen. I think we need to audit. We need to audit DPD their cash impressed cash bond we need to audit the fire department and we also need an audit of the building authority especially DPD at the I think has been one of those in a minute. Now. We're supposed to have redundancy and government and so we shouldn't have more people we should have less. You know, we should have less, you know be more compact and, you know, get more out of less people having everybody kissing over each other and so that's supposed to be an annual report once a year. Now, as it relates to senior citizens, complexes and shelters, you got to have automatic backup power you got it have to be there I mean like two seconds I don't mean you know, go get a generator come back. I gotta be like in minus one and minus two maybe and minus three people. And that's redundancy. So two to five seconds you gotta have power restored. It's like a blink, you know, so can't can't run get a generator and if you did, you're just putting out the carbon in the air and, you know, the anti slavery documents, you gotta have one of those with every contract. You know, every renewal anti slavery that nobody in that crew can have, can have anything to do with prisons or you know, slave labor.
streetlights
we should have the lights in the alley. They bought the alleys just like the street it's public than it should be.
And I didn't know we could pay our
property taxes Michael just heard I heard when I heard this a download speaking. How, how come we don't know that? You know, I mean, just just wondered. Thanks.
Right, thank you Miss Winton.
The next caller is Taya Tanisha Sanders.
Bye. Bye everybody. Can you hear me?
Yes, we can.
Hi this Kinesia standars I'm in district one. Hello James Tate and and I'm working in mirror Sheffield district five. I am with Detroit action. I am the renters and to the organizers. We're working on the tennis biller writes in now my seniors are complaining about a bill of rights because they're being mistreated. The reason for my call today is for fully funding right to counsel. right to counsel need to $27 million this year but Lord knows a friend keep going up we need to adjust every year. We also need to make sure it's fully find the period that we don't have to keep fighting. It should be it's T that's in place for those that really need it. It started off with me just making phone calls to people here and mothers you know mostly mothers and children but this large amount of seniors being displaced if a landlord get pissed we should have some kind of landlord law also we're slum Lords because landlords do right slum Lords don't do right. These slum lords are telling people a month before it's time for them to resign their lease that they have to move now what do we have in place for that? You know, I'm saying so at the end of the day, we are asking for right to counsel to be fully funded for sure to $27 million this year. We needed to make sure is in a rotating budget period. And we need to discuss other entities for relocation and more because yes, we have a lawyer sitting next to somebody and things are going a little better, but it's not keeping people in their homes. We need to make sure we keep all people in their homes no matter what costs it is. Thank you. Have a great evening.
All right, thank you you as well. The
next caller is Nagi Hello, can
I be hurt? Yes, you can. Hi, my name is Marjorie Nixon osobowe by Nagi and I'm the Community Organizer at Detroit disability power. I'm here today representing not just myself but a community that too often goes unheard and overlooked the disabled citizens of Detroit. We come to you with the simple yet urgent acts to fund disability across all departments in our city. I implore each of you to take a moment to review the budget breakdown provided by Detroit disability power and warriors on wheels these breakdowns outline essential allocations such as 1.4 million to the Office of Disability affairs, a 3 million designated for grants to enhance accessibility at polling sites and 2 million at least to ensure paratransit is accessible all throughout our city. It's crucial to understand that disabled Detroiters are not just statistics, We are your neighbors, your colleagues and your friends. We pay taxes when we contribute to our communities and we make up over 20% of this great population. And these investments are not just about like meeting legal obligations or checking off boxes. They are about ensuring that every member of our community has the opportunity to live a dignified and fulfilling life. It's time our city demonstrates his commitment to inclusivity accessibility equity for all this residents and be the example for what fully accessible cities can look like. I urge each of you to consider this to consider the profound impact of these allocations that these allocations can have on the lives of disabled traders and to prioritize them and your budget deliberations. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
All right, thank you.
Apologies I was muted. The next caller is to hear Ahmed.
Good afternoon Council. I want to thank Council members Callaway for making it possible to get the Coalition for Property Tax Justice resolutions moved and for councilmember Sheffield, for her leadership, a special thanks to the Shay rose for coming through for us once again consistently and being vigilant. Also, I want to thank the other council members who pass the resolute two resolutions as well. I have a special shout out to Angela Whitfield Callaway for her moving it forward and being astute enough to call for the planning development to be brought online to reveal that the study had been done and we're just waiting on on a signature. Thank you. Members shall fill and thank you member Callaway. You are so astute. We love you. Also, I want to appeal to the mayor to keep your oath to the people of Detroit and enact the two resolutions to call for the county treasurer to halt the foreclosures and give the 30% reduction in property taxes to the 72% of the lowest value homes outlined in the Chicago study. Fully fine count right the council take care of the homeless disabled and the children removed Neil Barclay from the CIT Charles a drag Museum of African American History who was prevented the appointment of the lefty community board members to the board of directors and is incompetent and black history. And finally please allow more time for us and make comments if you can then just give it 30 seconds more. It's too little time for us to try to squeeze in all of the issues that this complex system of the city of Detroit has revealed and the budget hearing this is not fair to us. We understand that Mr. Horne was being dishonest and he needs to be fired immediately. Thank you.
Thank you.
The next caller is Eric wells Be
Good evening.
Thank you Good afternoon, Madam President and council members. My name is Eric welsby. And I serve as the advocacy director of Detroit disability power. Throughout this budget process, DDP has had the opportunity to look up fundraising or funding priorities for disabled Detroiters and we've really appreciated the conversations we've been able to have with city council members, with your staffs and with several other departments over the past several weeks. Through our conversations, I've gotten a sense the progress our efforts have made to help the city better understand the issues and needs of the disability community. And now is the chance to chant transform understanding into action through funding the priorities GDP. And while we've identified during this process, you can help set Detroit on a path towards being a city that will become truly accessible and inclusive for all its residents, workers and visitors. On behalf of disabled Detroiters, their friends, families and allies. I strongly urge you to invest in Detroiters with disabilities. This includes providing $1.4 million annually for the Office of Disability affairs. 3 million for improving accessibility at polling locations and increasing investments in bus stop accessibility and DDOT personnel among many other items that I know you've heard from all of us about quite a bit today. And in the last few weeks. Through the support of these budget priorities and others. You have the power to show that you prioritize and value the needs of disabled Detroiters and as you make your final votes on the budget in the coming days. I hope that DDP our members and all Detroiters with disabilities can count on your support. Thank you so much and have a good evening.
Thank you.
The next caller is Cunningham.
Good evening.
Good evening Cunningham.
All right. Let's come right back to Mr. Cunningham.
Hello, sir. Good conversation in the taxi cab. Can y'all hear me?
Yes, we can hear you How
you doing, Madam President?
Thank you.
All right. I want to agree with all of the disability advocates today. In my life and my experiences, I have seen that the billionaires and millionaires seem to always win. And where our money goes, is to beautify and build up stuff that benefits them. But to the powers that be if you can make some surprise changes, surprise changes because nobody will believe that. But maybe a couple of surprise changes out of your Executive Session, assisting the disability to community and those that ride Detroit Department of Transportation it will be shocking for all those under the sound of my voice 313 Fo fo fo 911431344491143134449114 And on Facebook, retro active fairness two words, retro active fairness, one more time to worse, retro act of fairness. Today I went to see my mom and she was a bit thin. But thank you for your prayers for her she's very strong. She's a disabled registered nurse with multiple sclerosis at the rivers of Grosse Pointe, Cheryl Marie Lyons, the most strong she never complains. She lost her husband she lost her son. She wanted to strong as black women I know that's why I have so much respect for black women. Black women on this council, black women listening powerful black women. And the women on this council have made decisions that were shocking sometimes, and maybe they'll make one now.
Thank you Mr. Cunningham.
next caller is Frank Hammer.
Mr. Hammer Good evening.
Good evening. Hello to the honorable city council and thank you for the hearing about a year ago. Our community Green Acres was a civic association, part of District Two represented by our council member Callaway passed a resolution and did not anticipate that we would be now debating fully funding the right to counsel but I want to give you the points that were made by the board of GW ca representing about 1000 families in Detroit. One the opportunities with right to counsel will increase for the traders with the security of staying in their homes funding your right to counsel fully and we'll keep Detroiters in their homes. Your traders deserve an equitable budget as opposed to a bare bones budget. For a right to counsel for every resident who needs it not just a quick legal advice, but tailoring counsel to each case for legal and just resolution. Three right the council has been successful we implemented in 13 cities in three states. It's proven a successful investment in people in our neighborhoods. Right to council fully funded is key to ending intergenerational poverty through housing stability five right to counsel fully funded is a homelessness prevention. evictions cause homelessness in Detroit people are 18 times more likely to avoid eviction and homelessness when they have legal representation. And finally, there is a three to one return on investment for every dollar invested in a right to counsel as one of the most fiscally sound public policies that city has. It should be fully funded. There's $200 million in the ARPA funds that can be used to help our residents. I want to thank this council for fully supporting right to counsel. And now let's get the job done with fully funding the legal right to prevent evictions. Thank you.
The next caller is Betty a Varna.
Good evening to all within the sound of my voice. Betty a brown and president of the soda Ellsworth black Association. And I want to thank the Council for last year, you allocated money for the seniors accessibility home repair fund. That fun is very needed. And I'm hoping that the council is going to allocate money this year to keep that program going. And I'm looking forward. This is April so I'm looking forward to get that telephone call. So the work can start. Also, I'm going to ask that the council consider monies for community organizations that are maintaining or creating parks in their neighborhoods. And in their communities. The city has shown the importance of having recreation centers and and parks. So I'm asking that monies be allocated to community organizations to help them maintain and and create the parks that they want to create in their community. For example, my organization, the sodales were black Association, aka diba. We're creating a park in the memory of Our Lady Vice President going to London near she wanted a pop for the singers focusing on the church when to get them off the street, to have a place a safe place for them to congregate and play a place for us to have events for our community. We have had three successful events or that park city wide. So this we're not asking for a handout. We're asking for help. We need playground equipment. The playground equipment is very expensive. We appreciate you come so continue the good work. Thank you for this time.
The next caller is Joyce e Jennings.
Good afternoon,
counsel in all our public participants, I just would like to thank you all for the opportunity that you make available for public comment in response to the agendas that you discuss and vote on. I would like to ask as we move forward with the budget hearings or a preparation that we consider adding funding. So when people make public comment in person or online or write in that there is staff actually assigned to give responses because when people are giving public comment, or they're making complaints, it needs to be addressed. And we're coming to you as the legislative body. That is the check and balance for the executive branch so that we are not hearing groanings my next concern is as I've had set for the last couple of hours outside of Cass High School, as the track team is practice. I would like to see our tax dollars that we vote on for school meals actually utilize to support our students so that they're not having to run around the park across from cast because they do not have a track. I would like to see the football field at Cass High School, the actual proper length that it needs to be to hold football games. I also would like to see all of these parking meters that have been installed around cast that takes away parking away from the parents and the students and the staff. If you would consider removing them or giving the participants and supporters of CAS one of the parking logos that are needed so that we are able to park around the school as well without being charged a fee and please restore the retirees pension it should not take 30 years to restore something that was taken.
Right Thank you
the next caller is Althea Jackson.
Good evening.
Good evening Miss Jackson
Good evening Miss Jackson. Right we can come back to this caller please.
We can come back to this caller please.
Apologies I was muted the next caller is Remy, man be heard.
Yes, you can.
Hello, thank you for your time Council. My name is Rami Alvarez I'm disabled and my family has lived in the same house in District Six since 1997. I'm here to demand that you find disabled Detroiters this budget season. Two blocks from where I grew up. My cousin with Down syndrome grew up alongside with me. We're only two years apart. We both just crossed into our 30s and are experiencing two completely different Detroit's on top of the barriers The city has placed around him for having Down syndrome. He's now experiencing mobility issues and so are his caregivers who are my aunt and uncle because they're pushing their 70s the sidewalks near their homes are so bad that they hardly leave their home especially in the in the winter or when it floods in the summer. They don't feel optimistic about the quality of life available to them. And you hold the power to close the gap between the Detroit disabled folks live in and the one non disabled people have the privilege to take for granted. Please fund the demands of Detroit disability power and warriors on wheels, disabled folks and the families of which disabled folks in their families which we know there are hundreds of 1000s of are counting on you. disability can happen to any of us. I'm also here in support of the 25 million for the Housing Trust Fund, as well as the right to counsel ordinance for it to be fully funded immediately. And to lift up specifically the 3 million that we need in the Department of Elections to make sure that the 84% of polling locations that are not accessible in Metro Detroit are brought up to compliance hopefully by this election. Thank you so much to the folks on this council. That go out of their way to support us. We see you and we love you. Thank you so much. And to everyone else that's uplifted comments and support of disabled folks. It warms my heart to hear you on this call. Thank you.
All right. Thank you
the next caller is Angie Detroiters for Tax Justice.
Good evening.
Good evening.
I'm Angie from this district three and Detroiters protects justice and have lived in Detroit. For 45 years. Calling about two issues. And the first is why it's very important. It's about the Detroit Public Libraries administration fee. The city has charged the Detroit Public Library of $1.2 million for in what they call an administrative fee for years without any explanation of what those so called fees were paying for. When the library or auditors asked for an explanation of those charges. They were currently dismissed that revenue is the equivalent of fully funding one library branch for one and a half years. When Detroiters for Tax Justice sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the city for a list of city expenses related to library administration. We were told that no document documentation existed for those charges. That does not sound right. As we said to counsel even in 2023 There has been very little staff time dedicated to the library. Perhaps not even one full time equivalent position. The library does its own human resources procurement, maintenance and legal services. We appreciate that the city budget director recognizes this problem and is open to a solution we have asked for LPD in the city budget department to arrange a meeting with library staff to create a consensus an actual cost to the library for library services. That has not started yet. We are therefore asking the Council to take out a million dollars of the fee and return it to library operations. The remaining few dollars to the city still withheld are still higher. All right,
thank you.
The next caller is Galaxy A 54 5g me
Good evening Galaxy
Alright, if we can come back to this caller please.
Okay, the next caller is Laura supremo.
Good evening.
Hi, good evening. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay, thank you. My name is Laura supranet and I live in the Woodbridge neighborhood in District Six and I'm here to ask that you fund disabled Detroiters this budget season. We are asking that $2.2 million in funding for DDOT to make all bus stop curb and landing pads accessible as well as $1.1 million to separate street parking to sorry to separate street parking from bus stop areas. As a wheelchair user I experienced the hindrances and dangers that this lack of accessibility creates. I'm also asking that we allocate another $25 million each year for the next four years for the sidewalk program to make 100% of Detroit sidewalks accessible. This is imperative for disabled Detroiters, seniors and able bodied Detroiters as on uneven sidewalks lead to falls and falls lead to 32,000 Senior deaths and 3 million ER visits in the US each year. I highly encourage members of city council to get in a wheelchair and try to navigate your way around this city. You will get first hand understanding of how critical funding and accessibility is Furthermore, the budget demands of Detroit disability power and warriors on wheels are my demands to these investments will benefit us all. As disability will inevitably be a part of all of our lives. Thank you for your time.
Thank you
next caller is Detroiters for Tax Justice.
Hi, good evening. Good evening Council. Mr. Hyman District Six. Um, I want to first ask you that you please fully fund the following right to cancel ordinance 19th library repairs for reopening the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the DIS disability infrastructure that would make every aspect of life accessible to all Detroiters reimburse the library system 80% of the administrative fee that the city has been taking yearly with no accounting of how that money is used, and to also reimburse the remaining $400,000 still outstanding due to embezzlement by an unnamed city employee. Also, if the LPD is planning a meeting between the budget department and the Library Commission, we asked that please be taken out of the city budget instead of charging the library the exorbitant fees with having made more money this year than ever before. There is no reason to grant the DWSD a rate increase and asking that the drainage fee or rain tax be reduced. I'm very much in support a participant participatory budgeting for Detroit. We Detroiters know better than many of the department heads where money needs to go since we live in the city that many of them do not. Until the DGC can hold open and honest meetings. I do not support Councilperson Benson's recommendation to fund that entity. Several weeks ago they promised a link to the PowerPoint they presented at their last public meeting hosted by console person, Sheffield, which we really appreciate her giving, allowing a give and take between that entity and the public. But I have yet to receive that PowerPoint in spite of numerous requests. And you should know that their voicemail as of April of 2024 says it due to the pandemic.
All right, thank you Miss Hyman.
next caller is Rochelle Stewart.
The evening council members. My name is Michelle Stewart and I'm a resident of district seven and a member of Detroit people's platform transit justice team. I appreciate the council and the city for approving it recently $3 raise for the operators drivers. But today I'm here with local transit advocates to ask the council to put the increase the dots budget to invest it DDOT reimagined capital plan and implement DDOT low income care program with an investment from 100,000,200 50 million from general fund all to ensure DDOT can continue to hire increase the wages of all DDOT personnel retain drivers mechanics and staff. This includes a capital plan to restore stops and shelters up to the ADA code and install more seating at the bus stops across the city better respectful service at our transit centers and invest in improving our preferred transit system with the path to in house fleet in the future and I'm asking the council to please turn right to counsel, affordable housing trust fund the Office of Disability players and invest in disability community infrastructure. And also I want to thank the council and the mayor for naming that transit center at the Jason Hargrove is greatly appreciated to have a public figure from Detroit that we are proud of the man who worked tirelessly being the bus driver taking care of his family, loving the job that he did. And I greatly appreciate y'all doing that. That is truly an honor. You know, and I hope that you do take the time to go over our budget and invest in these things we're asking you for. We're here out here in this city. We're seeing the things some things that you may not see. So please listen to us. Take our input and please vote on some of the things that are essential for us Detroiters, public transit, disability community, affordable housing right to conflict, Officer the deal civility fears, I thank you for this evening and all call you have a safe and blessed. All right, thank
you. Next caller is phone number ending in 270.
Good evening.
Good evening. Emily Shelton Doug administration has issued over $2 billion in various kinds of municipal bonds over the last 10 years. A majority of them are unlimited, unlimited texture and obligation bonds in 2018, doesn't issue a UT geo bond of $36 million to expand the partnership with still analysts to expand inside vehicle manufacturing plans for the promise of 5000 Detroit jobs, not 5000 Detroit jobs, but the promise that Detroit is would be interviewed first. With these jobs, Detroit has did not get the projected 5000 jobs. When we did the it was a $36 million UTG yo bond debt plus interest payments and last but not least, we have massive pollution problems. Because of that plant expansion and because of environmental racism. And the Oh CFO has over 400 people employed in that office. Yet no one thought of issuing an industrial revenue bond for business expansion of job creation and industrial revenue bonds could have been paid back by the factories, revenue streams. Instead of that being paid that for the residents property taxes as is the case lead bond that was issue. The so cost the Lana's land swap deal. It's very simple. Just do what you're supposed to do. For the majority residents that match the resources that's been pouring introducing with the needs of the majority residents. That's what your job
All right. Thank you, Mr. Shelton.
next caller is Jacob Graham.
Good evening.
Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. I'm here on behalf of the people who use the sidewalk. I I live in district five. I live right near a park and it's impossible for someone in a wheelchair to go a half a block from my house to the park. Whether that's land in front of land bank houses, sidewalk or land, land bank houses, land bank vacant properties, or the park itself. All of those sidewalks are inaccessible. Their streets without curb cuts. The ADEA has been enforced for 30 years more than 30 years. And I at the DPW budget hearing last week. DPW made it very clear that safety is not a top priority for them. Accessibility is not a top priority for them. It's something that they think about. Of course, it's something we all think about, but it needs to be a budget priority. We need to see sidewalk funding increased, year over year not decreased. We need to see dedicated funding for curb cuts so that people can get across the street safely in their wheelchair or with a stroller or or with any type of mobility challenge. Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you.
The next caller is Tammy pride.
Good evening.
Can I be heard here? Okay. Good events. Counsel. Thank you for allowing me to speak. I stay in district two. And I am speaking on the mini Detroit Tigers that are not reaping the economic prosperity that the administration often brags about. These benefits have been mostly gone to the few in downtown and midtown, not to our neighborhoods that need it. We need a budget that drives more equity. This is why I am asking council to support the following budget actions. One, adopt a real participatory budgeting process to fully fund the right to council. Three, allocate $25 million to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. And lastly, support the resolutions to reopen the mighty blob library and repaid the library for the overcharges from the tax captures. I'd appreciate if City Council take this into serious council consideration and thank you so much for your time.
Right Thank you.
The next caller is Kia Mathis
All right. Good evening.
Hello. Can I be heard?
Yes you can.
Hello this is Kia Mathis, from the housing justice team at Detroit people's platform. I am calling again. On behalf of our team will work across the city of Detroit around housing. We believe that in this budget season that we are asking that you should fund the right to counsel. We're asking for 27 million in solidarity with everyone else. We're asking for 25 million in a housing trust fund with in solidarity with everyone else and we're also asking that you put $10 million into the public health fund. All of these funds will assist with addressing housing, affordability and housing insecurity. So we're also asking that you would consider that and we understand that even in homelessness, that there have been some there have been some input in there, but we believe that you should extend put money into funding specifically extending the bed capacity of the homeless shelters and even our transitional housing. Thank you.
All right. Thank you
the next caller is Renard mansions.
Good evening.
Good evening, Madam President. Can I be heard?
Yes, you can.
Good evening, Madam President and members of council. My name is Renard Miss Johnson and I'm a resident of District Six and I'm a member of Detroit people's platform trans injustice to also want to speak in quarters to our allies that Detroit disability power and warriors on wheels and echo the sentiments and their budget requests as well. Today I'm here with all other transit advocates to ask this council to increase the dots budget to invest in and do that reimagined capital plan and implement the DDOT low income fair program with an investment from 100 million to 150 million from the general fund to show that you're serious about public transit and funding it ought to ensure that DDOT can hire and increase the wages do not personnel and retain drivers mechanics in all other staff. And what this will allow you to do is it includes a capital plan to restore stops and shelters that are up to ADA configuration. And not just minimum ADA standards, meaning that it can really accommodate people's needs of all delivery. statuses and stop more seating and bus stops across the city and better a respectful service in our transit centers and improvements and improving our paratransit system with a path to enhance paratransit fleet in the future. And this is so important for members of the disability community as well, since these contracts, and the contracts will serve as the paratransit will expire in some years and we need a sustainable path to ensure that the service is top notch as it has been lately and to do that reimagine is a wonderful plan honors been positive remarks about this public hearings and we just need you to city council to support all of our efforts and creating a capital plan for DDOT we imagine so our system can be one that is none of last resort, but a system that people can use to get around our city equitably and will allow us to thrive in our city. Thank you.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Lucas law sucky.
Good evening, counsel. Can I be heard?
Yes, you can. Hi.
Thank you. I'm looking to ski with transportation riders united and I understand that you as council have a hard job the city Detroit's a massive operation. So much to fund and only so little funds with which to fund but in all the MCS I'd like to make the case tonight to increase funding for DDOT. Well, we do appreciate the increases in funding proposed by the mayor to allow for higher wages to be paid, and for more drivers to be hired to run DDOT services but they really will not account for actually raising the dots wages further to be competitive with well, to match those paid in other cities and be competitive with trucking operations and other transit agencies that are raising their wages beyond what DDOT is offering their drivers. That's part of the DDOT reimagined plan which is a pretty amazing plan. I must say but with the budget proposed I don't think it can truly become reality especially with regards to capital improvements. For one DDOT does not have enough equipment doesn't have enough vehicles to operate the services proposed under reimagined with changes to the bus industry manufacturers leaving space DDOT needs to put out an RFP now if they want to have enough buses to run deedat reimagined services in that timeframe. And more funding, be it local or federal needs to be secured in order for that to happen. And finally, I echo the sentiments of the disability advocates who have spoken already. D that's just decisions in the City of Detroit's funding have so far historically cast disabled Detroiters and disabled bus riders to the wayside and this budget does not adequately address their needs. There are hundreds of DDOT bus stops which are completely unusable to many disabled to Detroit. errs. And this budget does not address bringing those up to code so to speak to make them usable for disabled Detroiters. Thank you for your time.
All right. Thank you
the next caller is Ruth Johnson.
Ryan Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you.
Ruth Johnson, Public Policy Director for c dac Community Development advocates of Detroit. I am so happy for this day because this is an opportunity for the city both the Duggan administration and city council to hear the cries the please the request of citizens and other community stakeholders. We are using our power and using our voice one of the things that see dead members and supporters want is more investment of public funds, the people's money, our money from all sources into Detroiters and Detroit organizations that serve them. So investing in Detroit housing and community development needs. Invest investing in experienced community development organizations investing in the Housing Trust Fund. We're specifically asking an appropriation of $25 million into Detroit affordable housing development and preservation fund that targets truly affordable and accessible housing for Detroiters. Invest in Detroit homeowners and nonprofit landlords invest in Detroiters facing eviction, allocate $27 million to fully fund the right to counsel law. It's been proven that it works. Let's invest in a law that works because it is a law. Invest in a city wide comprehensive Master Plan update. Invest in Detroiters community education and engagement needs. But I also want to encourage council to invest in Detroiters with disability so that we have a fully accessible Detroit. I support see that members Detroit disability power and warriors on wheels and all the other folks you've heard from that really want this city to be for all Detroiters, but especially our legacy Detroiters are
all right, thank you.
Next caller is phone number ending in 299.
All right, good evening.
Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Joy small was identified community coalition and the Virginia Park community. And I'm right I'm quite I think you caught me off guard. Since the budget has impact upon the seven districts. I'm in support of the participatory budget, as it will create more opportunities to address the monetary needs of various residents in each district such as lower homeless here, look when it's important to name a few and other districts. Number two, the Memorandum of Understanding should not be voted on tomorrow and should be reworked to include revision of the following and more. No, there should be no land trust unless the community has input and control of the development and it should not be given to nonprofit arbitrarily. The chief financial officer the officer should be accountable for any money spent by getting the approval of council before the money is spent not after we need to see we need to revisit the $250 million lifespan as it is excessive and we are using aquifers and have already used aquifers as well as general funds for removal of life. There should be no increase in property taxes as we are already at nine mills in terms of the structure Detroit land bank is structured into a land bank needs to be reviewed and respected. The mayor is where to find directors of which he appoints three. What is for the Michigan Housing Authority and what is appointed by Council. This is why we have impoverished with the Detroit land bank. There is no democracy again. I say that our money is being managed or should I say mismanage Thank you. I yield my time Joyce more.
All right. Thank you Miss Moore.
The next caller is Nancy Brigham.
Leaving
Okay, hi, I'm a 40 year resident of District Four and I want to add my voice for fully funded right to counsel which is desperately needed not only for tenants, but for those of us who want to live in an economically and racially diverse and stable city. You know, we all know the embattled person with no lawyer is no match for a landlord with a lawyer who knows the judges and how to use the system. And that makes me wonder if the mayor is not funding this essential, right. If he really wants to transform Detroit into a higher income White City, is so that's not the city I want. Diversity has always been our strength. And where are people to go? What about children? As you know, evictions lead to instability in our neighborhoods and our schools. Unjust evictions lead to anger, crime and alienation. If there's money for it, which there should be money for justice for the people who actually live here. And just as you know, your job is to raise up represent Detroiters, not outsiders making money at our expense. So I want to urge you please do the right thing and fully funded right to cancel. Thank you.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Patty Fetullah.
All right. Good evening. Hi. Hello,
counsel. Thank you for having this hearing today. I just wanted to I Sorry, I couldn't be with you today. But I endorse what all the disability advocates that have spoken before have said that we need a stronger DDOT we need better wages for everybody. That's working there in order to have enough drivers to have enough mechanics to have enough people to run our city. And in that same vein, we need to stop putting out schedules that we can't meet in theirs as you look across the country to having a missed trip. is a really big deal. There'll be an investigation. They'll look at major issues about why that happened. It happens rarely in bus systems other than around Detroit. In Detroit, the bus schedule is considered well we'll try to make it today. We have to stop expanding service before we're ready to we have to make the schedule be meaningful. I love the expanded service on Jefferson. It's so much easier because I live along the corridor. But the problem is we still don't have enough drivers to have 100% pull outs and have 100 have 100% of our trips go out so my ecstatic response to this increased service doesn't mean a whole lot when somebody else is not getting their service across the city. We need to have stable service that we know we can get every day and I can do another resolution or whatever you would like but we need to do something to make sure that we have the service and it was terrific. Last year we had the one meeting we did with the resolution seeking expanded service. However, we need to do something that's more I mean, we weren't we asked for for for this year, and so far we've only had one maybe we can have another one soon to get the the regular updates from the department please fund the deedat reimagined and please make us a terrific system. Thank you see on the bus.
All right. Thank you.
We are now back to the two callers who didn't respond last time. The first caller is Toshiba.
All right. Good evening.
Good evening, Miss Sheffield.
Good evening.
How you doing? Can you hear me? Yes,
we can hear you. Yes, Toshiba. We can hear you okay.
I am a resident of Detroit taxpayer. And I'm speaking on behalf of the right to console. I've been an advocate for the last two years for the right to counsel. So this time I'm not axing I'm demanding that our city officials and leavers funded us the 27 million that we need for our right to console. I believe every residents deserve a fair trial at the slum lords. There's been here there's one that we have no control over. So please add some again. On behalf of the right to counsel coalition. Please miss Sheffield, fund us to 27 million for our right to counsel. Thank you and you have a blessed beautiful day. All right,
thank you you as well.
And the last caller is Galaxy A 54 5g
All right good evening
good evening Galaxy All right going once, Galaxy
one twice make sure your microphone is unmuted Galaxy
Good evening galaxy. All right. That will be three times if you would like to submit your public comment to the clerk's office we will make sure it is a part of the public record. But that being said that will conclude all of all of our public comment for this evening we thank everyone for calling in. And also coming down we will resume our deliberations tomorrow after our formal session at 2pm. We will be an executive session throughout the week. We welcome continued feedback you can call in during those public comment portions at the end of executive session and looking forward to moving forward with the budget. If there is nothing special
things yes, potentate.
Thank you, Madam President. Through you to Mr. Corley, just to make sure we're all on the same page. I know that request has been put out to ensure that all of the items that we'll need some funding allocations come before you so we can put it on the spreadsheet. There's two items that I think we put on there but I'm not sure I don't want to clog up this time. Kind of going through the list. But tomorrow is not too late to add to the Executive Session. That correct just I want to put them out. All right, thank you, Mr. correlate will will consult with you offline. Thank you.
Thank you prototype member Benson.
I think I've got three motions. I got three items. I'd like to add to the closing resolution. Number one is requests, urging the administration to come up with an anti litter assessment and policy enforcement. Mr. Corley, want to repeat that? Okay, an anti litter assessment, enforcement policy, and so an anti litter assessment, on suggestions for policies around enforcement as well as community engagement from the administration and this is really to lean in when it comes to our cleanliness and since we're putting in 40% increase on our solid waste contracts. The have the Detroit health department to provide an assessment on the youth substance abuse prevention activities that are currently in place and how much additional funding will be needed out to carry out sobs. substitutive. youth substance use prevention activities with the ultimate goal to achieve a 10% investment from our tax receipts. marijuana tax receipts into use substance abuse prevention.
Mr. Corley, I see you coming down.
I'm president, Council Member of Benson. So that's a long one. So the wonderful if you are one of your staff can email we just want to make sure we have this proper language.
So we'll get that to you. So this is just really for the form of this performative this into the record. And then finally it will be a 0% interest creation with 0% interest bridge loan for the museums for cash flow management purposes. It's really difficult for them to make the improvements on our asset as the tenants when they have cashflow problems, so we're able to provide create a 0% interest bridge loan for the museum's that'd be fantastic motion. All right.
So we will add that to Executive Session your follow up and Robinson you're writing for Mr. Corley to have a Hearing no objections that will be added to our executive session. And waters Do you have something to know do you have something as well? Oh,
she was okay. Um, no, no.
All right. There's nothing else to come before us. This meeting will stand adjourned.